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More Than 3,200 Children Adopted From Foster Care in Florida Last Year

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2012

Contact: Erin Gillespie, Press Secretary, (850) 459-2063

More Than 3,200 Children Adopted From Foster Care in Florida Last Year State, community partners focused on finding permanent homes for teens, sibling groups and children with special needs

TALLAHASSEE—In the past year, 3,252 children were adopted from Florida’s foster care system, an 8 percent increase from last fiscal year even as the number of children available for adoption is declining.

Currently, there are about 750 children in foster care who are available for adoption without an identified family. That number is down from 850 about 18 months ago. In addition, Florida’s goal to safely reduce the number of children in foster care has led to a 33 percent decline in the number of children in foster care down to 19,730 in June 2012.

“All children and youth in foster care need a permanent, loving family,” said Secretary David Wilkins. “Although we have seen great success in our adoption campaign, we will continue to focus on finding families for our children and never give up until every child has a place to call home.”

In recent years, Florida has significantly increased the number of children adopted from foster care by focusing on finding families for teens, sibling groups and children with special needs. Last year, 3,009 children were adopted. This is the fifth year in a row that more than 3,000 children were adopted from foster care, bringing the total to more than 17,000.

Florida’s award-winning Explore Adoption campaign is supported by DCF and the Governor’s Office of Adoption and Child Protection. Information on the children currently available for adoption can be found at www.adoptflorida.org or by calling 1-800-962-3678 (1-800-96-ADOPT).